Tag former and affixer.



C. R. DODGE.

TAG FORMER AND AFFIXER. APPLIOA'TION FILED AUG. 19, 1913.

1 ,1 08,836.. Patented Aug. 25;, 1914.

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wmwm I G. R.' DODGE:

TAG FORMER AND AFFIXER. APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 19, 1913.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

3SHEETSSHEET 2.

SIM/002M501, (72am? HEW/ye.

' theirs srntrns re ment CLAUDE R. DODGE, OF ST. GEORGE, UTAH.

TAG IFQRMER AND AFFIXER.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, CLAUDE R. Donor, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. George, in the county of Washington and State of Utah, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ta F ormers and Affixers, of which the followlng is a specification.

. The invention relates to a tag forming and aiiixing machine, and more es ecially to 1nachin-es of this character designed particularly for forming and-affixing tags of the construction set forth and forming the subjest-matter of my pending. application, filed August 23, 1912, hearing Serial Number 716,694.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a machine wherein individual tags will be successively cut and formed from a tag tape which is wound upon a reel and is fed in a novel manner to the tag forming and cutting mechanism of the machine, the tags after being formed and cut from the tape being readily and easily'handled by the operator of the machine so thatthey can be clamped firmly onto an article to be tagged during thecontinued operation of the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character wherein the handling of the tag tape is accomplished in a unique manner, which tape consists of a metallic tape having afabric covering and are provided with teeth'so that they can be used as the usual laundry tag and arejoined, together side by side in strip form which are wound upon a reel asa tape, the individual tags being bent into substantially U-shape and severed from the tape to be subsequentlyclamped firmly upon the article to be tagged by the machine during a single-operation thereof, the tags being in tape form greatly ,reduce the cost of the manufacture thereof and also enables the formation of the individual tags successively while the machine is operating, and the easy and quick application or clamping thereof to the article to be tagged.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a. machine of this character in which the bending. of each tag the severing thereof from the tape, and tlae afiixing ofthe tag to an article to be laundried is auto- Speci fication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25 19114.

Application filed August 19,1913. Serial No. 785,554.

matically accomplished during the operation of the machine without requiring the stopping thereof at intervals and also avoiding the necessity of the hand bending and sever- .ing of the tags from thetape.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automatic machine of the class described which will embody the desired features of simplicity, durability and eiiiciency, aid by means of which the tag may be formed, severed from the tape and affixed to the article to be laundried, rapidly, conveniently and systematically.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in th features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and'the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the drawings :-Fi 'ure 1 is an en levation of a mavention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the machine. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectionalview on the line 6-6 of Fig.1. Fig. '{i' is a hori zontal sectional view on .-the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters indicate cor responding. parts throughout the several views in the drawings:

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the machine comprises a supporting table or stand 10 which may be of any desirable construction and on which is mounteda base or' frame 11 preferably made from metal and is cast or otherwise formed. The'base or.

frame '11 is fastened to the table or stand 10 by means of screws or bolts 12 asshown. At the front of the base or frame 11 is formed an anvil 13 which projects forwardly therefrom, and provided in the sides of the said frame or base 11 are vertical alining guideways 14: in which slide the guide ribs 15 arranged; opposite each other and project-ing inwardly from a plunger presently des ribed.

The plunger comprises spaced parallel its side bars 16 having integrally formed therewith the guide ribs 15, and are provided at the lower end thereof is a cross pin 19 to whlch is connected a link 20, the same being designed for connection with any suitable foot treadle so that the plunger can be lowered when operating the foot treadle. Formed on and depending from the table or stand between the bars 16 of the plunger is an eye 21 to which is connected one end of a coiled retractile spring 22, the opposite end of which is connected to the cross pin 19, and this spring 22 serves to raise the plunger after it has been lower ed by operating the foot'treadle (not shown).

Mounted in a seat or groove 23 formed in the top of the base or frame 11 is the dependi ing tongue or wing 24 of. a tag formingbar or rail 25 which projects outwardly vforwardly of the frame or base 11 between the bars 16 of the plunger, the tag forming bar or rail 25 being provided in oppositeside faces with grooves or channels 26 which are designed for a purpose presently described.

Arranged within the frame or base 11-directly behind the rear end of the tag forming bar or rail 25 is a rotatable feed roller 27, the same being journaled upon an axle or spindle 28 mounted in the sides of the frame or base 11, the highest point of the outer periphery of the roller 27 being slightly elevated above the top 10f the base or frame lland in plane level with the raised edge 29 of the tag forming bar or rail 25 so as to feed the tag tape 30 thereonto, which tape is normally wound upon a reel 31 'journaled in supporting brackets 32 fixed to the base or frame 11 at opposite sides thereof.

Formed on and rising above the top of the base or frame 11 are spaced bearings 32 in which is ournaled an axle or spindle 33 having fixed thereto an intermittently movable feed roller 34 which is arranged directly above the roller 27 and co-acts therewith to positively feed the tape 30 from the reel 31 onto and directly over the tag'forming bar or rail 25 for the subsequent bending of each tag constituting the tape, in a manner presently described.

The roller 34 at one end is formed with a ratchet gear 35, while loosely 7 journaled upon'the axle 33 is a cog wheel 36 carrying a pivoted spring-held pawl 37 which engages the teeth of the ratchet gear for actuating the same tointermittently rotate the feed roller 34, the cog gear 36,-being in meshing-1 engagement with the rack teeth 28; of a rack plate 29 secured or otherwise fastened to oneof the bars 16 of the plunger/ It will be noted that on-th'e lowering of the plunger the teeth38 of the rack plate" will act upon the cog wheel36, turning it/in a direction which causes the spring-"held pawl 37 to ride overa single tooth of the rathti'et gear 35 so that on the raising of the plunger which causes the turning'of the cog wheels361in.

the reverse direction. the pawl 37 will locli the ratchet gear therewith, thereby tarning the feed roller 34 a predetermined distance for the feeding of the tape 31 onto the tag forming-bar or rail 25 the required distance for positioning a ingle tag 40 directly over the raised edge 29 of the said bar or rail 25, Wherebythe tag 40 will be bent into substantially U-shape in a manner presently described.

Fixed to the base or frame 11 and overhanging the raised portion 29 of the tag forming bar or rail 25 is a guide arm 41 whichholds the tag 40 in posltion with respect to the baror rail 25 for the subsequent bending thereof into substantially U-shape as will be hereinafter fully described.

Arranged rearwardly of the guide rollers 27 and 34 is a tag tape guide hoo'd 42 which is fixed to the base or frame 11 and through which is trained the tag tape 30 to the feed rollers 27 and 32, which co-act with each other for the feeding of the ta'pe'forwardly of the machine to bring the individual tags 40 successively in position to be bent into U- shap on the tag forming bar or rail 25 of the machine.

The tag bending mechanism comprise a pair of spaced rollers 43 journaled upon stud I spindles or axles 44 mounted in forked bearings 45 integrally formed with the side bars 16 of the plunger, the said rollers 44 being located contiguous to the striker head- 17 of the said plunger and in alinement with the bars16 of the plunger so that on the lowering of the latter the rollers 43- will engage the straight tag 40 of the tape 30, and on the continued lowering of the plunger the tag. 40 will be bent into U-shape about the tag forming bar or rail 25 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Formed in the striker head 17 of the plunger is a dove-tail shaped groove 46 in outer end designed to cooperate with the inner cutting edge 50 of the block 47 to sever the advanced tag 40 at its narrow connecting web 51 with the adjacent tag of the tape 30', the block 47 .being held in the'groove 46 by -which is fitted a correspondingly shaped means of a set screw 52 which is threaded in the head 17 of the plunger and-,works against the block, a shown.

Each tag 40 of the tape 30 is formed with spurs 53 for the fastening thereof to an article after the tag 40 has been bentinto substantially U-shape, the said spurs being accommodated in the grooves 26 in the sides of the tag forming bar or rail so that the spurs will not be flattened from their normal position when the tag is being bent into substantially U-shape.

The tag forming, bar-or plate 25 is of a proper width to form the U-shaped tag when the latter is bent thereon on the lowering of the plunger and this bar or rail 25 is about the length of three tags 4-0 of the tape so that when the tape is fed through the rollers 27 and 32 one tag will be positioned directly over the raised portion 29 of the bar or rail 25, while the preceding tag next, thereto will be located directly in the path of movement of the severing block 47 so that when the plunger is lowered the said latter tag" will be cut from the tape simultaneously with the bending of the suc- .ceeding tag next thereto and located. over the raised portion 29 of the tag forming bar or rail 2-5, it being seen that the tag bent into substantially U-shape will be severed from the tape 30' while the next ta adjacent thereto is being formed into su stantially U-shape during the operation of the machine. After a single tag 4-0 has been severed from the tape 30 it is advanced to the outer end of the tag forming bar or rail 25 by the next tag adjacent thereto rior'to the severing of the latter tag from he tape so that the severed tagcan be readily removed by the operator of the machind and convenientlv mounted upon the article to be tagged. Thesaid severed tag placed upon the article ,is first pressed over the.

edge of the saidarticle with the fingers, and then the article bearing the tag is positioned upon the anvil 13 so that the tag will lie-thereon, whereby on lowering theplunger the hammer 23 will act upon the said tag for firmlv clamping it upon the article. During the clamping of the tag upon the article a new tag is bent into ll-shape in the machine, and the preceding tag which has been previously bent into U-shape is severed from the tape 30 on the lowering of the plunger.

In the operation of the machine the tag tape is wound upon the reel 31 and its free end is trained over the guide hood 42 between the feed rolle1s23'. and 32'so that on depressing the foot treadle the plunger is caused'tolower and on the lifting'o-f the plunger the first tag unsevered from the portion 29 of the tag forming bar or rail 25, w ereby on again lowering the plunger tion.

rectly over the raised the said tag will be bent into substantially U-shape. so that on the. return stroke of the plunger it will be positioned in the path of the severing block 47 which will cut the tag thus formed, when the said plunger is lowered, from the tape. Thereafter, the operator removes the tag which has been severed and presses it over the edge of an article to be laundried, with the fingers, and thereafter lays it on the anvil 13 to be subsequently acted upon by thehammer 18 which firmly clamps the tag to the article in a manner as hereinbeforedescribed. It will be apparent that throughout the continued operation of the machine the tags will beformed into U-shape, subsequently severed from the tape30, and thereafter firmly clamped to the article to be tagged.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner of operation of the device willbe clearly understood, and therefore a more extended explanation has been emitted.

What is claimed is 1. A tag forming and affixing machine comprising a frame, superposed feed rollers journaled on the frame and between which is adapted to be fed a tag tape, a reciproeating plunger mounted on the frame, a hammer formed on the ,plunger,'an anvil carried. by the frame and. projected below the hammer, a tag forming railprojecting outwardly from the frame into operative relation-to the plunger, means for guiding such tape onto the tag forming rail, means on the plunger for bending successively into U-shape from the tape about the said rail, and means carried bythe plunger and acting upon the bent tags for singly severing the same from the tape.

, 2. A. tag forming and 'aifixingmachine comprising a frame, superposed feed rollers journaled on the frame and between which is adapted to be fed a tag tape, a reciprocating plunger mounted on the frame, a hammer formed on the plunger, an anvil carried by the frame and projected below the hammer, a tag forming rail projecting outwardly fromthe frame into operative relation to the plunger, means for guiding such tape onto the tag forming rail, means on the plunger for bending successively tagsinto U-shape from the tape about the .said' rail, means carried by the plunger and acting upon the bent tags for singly severing the same from the tape, and means on the plunger and acting upon oneofthe feed rollers for intermittently moving the same when the plunger is shiftedinone direc-- A tag forming and affixing machine comprising a frame, superposed feed rollers journaled on the frame and between which lsadapted to be fed a tagtape, a reciprocating plunger mounted on the frame, a

the hammer, a tag forming rail projecting outwardly from the frame into operative relation 'to the plunger, means for guiding such tape onto the tag forming rail, means on the plunger for bending successively tags into U-shape from the tape about the said rail, means carried by the plunger and acting up'on the bent tags for singly severing the same from the tape, means on the -plun ger and acting upon one of the feed rollers for intermittently moving the same when are plunger is shifted in one direction, and means for moving the plunger to normal position. v

4.. A tag forming and afixing machine comprising a frame, superposed feed rollers journaled' on the frame and between which is adapted to'be fed a tag tape, a reciprocating plunger mounted on the frame, a

hammer formed on the plunger, an anvil carried by the frame and projected below the hammer, a tag forming rail projecting outwardly from the frame into operative relation to the plunger, means for guiding such tape onto the tag forming rail, means on the plunger for bending successively tags into U-shape from the tape about the said rail, means carried by the plunger'and acting. upon the bent tag's for singly severing the same from the tape, means on the plunger and acting upon one ofthe feed rollers for intermittently moting' the same whenthe plunger is shifted in one direction, means for moving the plungerto normal position,

and meansfor guiding the tape between the feed rollers.

'A tag forming and affixing machine comp-rising a frame, superposed feed rollers journaled on the frame and between which is'adapted to be'fed a tag tape, a recipro catingplunger mounted on the frame, a hammer formed on the plunger, an anvil carried by the frame and projected below the hammer. a tag forming rail projecting oi'itw'a'frdly from the frame into operative relation to the plunger, means for guiding such tape onto the tag forming rail, means on the plunger for bending successively tagsinto U-shapefrom' the tapeabout the said rail, means carried by the plunger and acting upon the bent tags for singly severing the same from thetape, means on the plunget and acting upon one of the feed rollers for int-ermittentlv moving the same when the plunger is shifted in one direction, means for moving the plunger to normal position, means for guiding the tape between the feedrollers, and tag-bending means carried by the plunger and acting upon the tags of the tape to bend the same about the tag forming "ails "when the plunger is moved from-nbrmal position.-

mosses 6*..A tag forming and aflixing machine comprising a frame, a tag forming rail supported by the frame, a plunger reciprocatingly mounted upon the frame,'means on the plunger and working at opposite sides'of the rail for bending a tag into substantially U-shape about said rail, means on the plun ger and acting upon the tag to sever the same from a tag tape subsequent to the bend '1 ing of the tag into U-shape .nieans on the. plunger and on the frame for coiip'eration With each other to clampthe severed tag to an article, and means for feeding the formed tag in the path of the clamping means.

l '7. A tag. forming and affixing machine 5 comprising a frame, a tag forming rail sup l ported by the frame, a plunger reciprocatingly mounted upon theframe, means on the blungerand working" at opposite sides of the rail for bending a tag into substantially Ushape about said rail, means on the plunger and "acting upon the tag to sever the from a tag tape subsequent to the bendingfof the tag into U-shape means on the plunger a d on the frame for cotipen' ation with each other to clamp thesevered wag to'an-art'icle, means for feeding the forined tag into tliepath of the clamping means. and mechanism for feeding the tape into the path of the tag bending means and: controlled byltheplun'ger, g 8 A tag forming" and affixing machine compi'isinga frame, a tag forming rai'l' supported by the frame, a plunger reciprocat in'gly mounted upon the frame, vmeans on the-plunge'rand working at opposite sides of the rail for bending a tag into substantially U sha'pe about said rail, means on the plunthe tag bending means and control'i'ed hy the plunger,- andmcans for hveldi'r'igg; the" in proper position-with respect to the tag bending means I a tag forming "and aihlxmgjrnachine comprising a frame, a tag-forming rail s'up- I ported by the frame, a .plunger rec procat ,ingly mounted uponthe'frame, means on, the plunger and Working at opposite sides of theft-ail for bending a tag intosubstant-ially til-shape about-said raihmea ns on the.

plunger and acting upon the tag to sever the same'from a tag tape subsequent toth'e' bending of the tag into tl shapefmeans Ion the plunger and on 'theframerfor eoeperation witheach other to clamp the severed tag to, an article, means for feeding the formed tag into the path of the clamping means,

iim' xhanisniufor' f e ding' the fiape in'tothe Q I Intstimozijyiwhefeof fflffix my signatilre "path of the tag ben dmg means vand conin massage-0f two WitIlESSQS the tape in proper. position with r spectm v the tag bending means, andmeai1s for-severfivltnessesz trolled by the phmgr, means f0;- holding ing the bent tag from the tape and-garried I T 10522! (1. DALE,

by the plunger. 

